About me

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Hi, my name is Huib Schoots. This is my alternative resumé. My resumé is here. On this page, you can read about what I think is important to know about me.

Me in a couple of words: Humanist, open, direct, creative, idea generator, result driven, humour, problem solver, curious, confronting, critical thinker, passionate and energetic, life long learner, entrepreneurial, analytic and continuous (world) improver.

What I do professionally in a couple of words: Quality Coach, Agile Expert, Change Maker, Product Improver, Problem Solver, Tester, Scrum Master

My personal mission: making better people and software quality by
Connecting – Innovating – Facilitating – Coaching – Enabling – Teaching

My passion in a couple of key words

heart-on-fire2 Everything I do, I do with passion. What keeps me moving is energy and passion. I need challenges to feel comfortable. Add to that that I want to be good in almost everything I do. Not just good, but the very best. All that makes that my surroundings sometimes suffer from me because I always want to more and do better. Fortunately, I have an above average energy level and that helps me do what I do. This video of Steve Jobs summarizes how I work.

struis I’m curious. This is an important characteristic in a coach and software tester. Richard Feynman, the Nobel Prize winner was a tester, though he was officially a natural scientist. In this video, “The pleasure of finding things out” he talks about certainty, knowledge, and doubt (from 47:20). Critical thinking about observations and information is important in my work! Richard Feynman never took anything for granted. He took the scientific approach and thought critical about his work. He doubted a lot and asked many questions to verify.

boekenBecause of my curiosity, I want to know everything. This has one big advantage: I want to develop and practice continuous learning. The great thing about my job is that testers get paid for learning: testing is gathering information about things that are important to stakeholders to inform decisions. I love to read and I read a lot to discover new things. I also ask for feedback on my work to develop myself continuously. Lately, experiential learning has my special attention. I wrote a column about why I like this way of learning. When it comes to learning, two great TED videos come to mind: “Schools kill creativity” and “building a school in the cloud“. These videos tell a story about how we learn and why schools (or learning in general) should change.

mensenPeople take the central place in my work. I have learned over the years that vulnerability can make you powerful rather than weak. I have also learned my share about leadership. The TED Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” by Simon Sinek is still a great inspiration for me after seeing it years ago. Just as Steve Jobs says in his speech: “How to live before you die“. He speaks about following curiosity and intuition. About trust in yourself. About following your heart, even when it takes you off the well-worn path. People are a great source of inspiration for me and I learn every project again from the people I meet.

microfoonTo really understand something, you should be able to explain it to another person. That’s what my math teacher told me in high school and he was right. Test techniques are a good example, I really began to understand them, when teaching testing courses. I had to explain them in courses and testers were asked smart questions about it. Knowledge sharing is an essential part of my work. I like doing workshops and classes and I speak regularly at conferences.

bloem I’m an entrepreneurial type of person. I am pro-active and if needed I like to arrange and coordinate so that things run smoothly. If something needs to be arranged, Huib will get it done!

Who am I professionally?

exploreI have national and international experience in the field of software development. I am an expert in the field of software quality and testing and I have in-depth knowledge of and experience with agile working methods, coaching, project and test management and change processes. I am one of the five Rapid Software Testing trainers in the world and I am a welcome guest at conferences as an experienced presenter, workshop facilitator and trainer.

I believe that personal leadership and collaboration ultimately makes the difference. I therefore help people and teams to do what they are good at; by empowering them and continuously improving teamwork. Solving problems and achieving the agreed goals together with those involved is my mission. My hands-on mentality, proactive and entrepreneurial attitude, drive and communication skills, enable me to make (complex) projects a success.

The quality of software is crucial. In a test and quality role I like to focus on an integrated quality approach. As a mentor and coach I help people and teams learn effectively and continuously develop with attention to sustainable adaptability that leads to improving (team) results and way of working. This enables teams to create more customer value. Together we create the conditions to develop talents and bring work in line with personal motivations.

I am always looking for interesting challenges where I can create something new or help improve. I like to contrive, learn, implement, and improve. I can manage a complex test project or coach several teams, but also like to be in the mud with my legs as a scrum master or tester.

Experience

April 2019 – current: Agile & Test consultant at De Agile Testers

  • Quality coach at CBS
  • Quality coach at Jewel
  • Agile coach / Scrum Master at PGGM
  • Rapid Software Testing Instructor

Feb. 2014 – Mar. 2019: Senior Consultant at Improve Quality Services

  • Agile coach / Scrum Master at PGGM
  • Agile coach at Océ
  • Rapid Software Testing Instructorlogo-iqs-nieuw
  • Agile and test coach at ING
  • Agile coach at Tata Steel
  • Test advisor at Nasdaq / BWise
  • Interim Manager at Stater
  • Test advisor & coach at RES
  • Test advisor at CZ

codecentric-logoNov. 2012 – Jan. 2014: Agile Test Consultant at codecentric Nederland BV

  • Test advisor at CZ
  • Test coordinator, tester and coach at Isala hospital
  • Advisor Test Automation at ING

RIJul. 2010 – Oct. 2012: Team manager and Lead Test Analyst at Rabobank International

  • Daily management of a team of fifteen testers, two release managers and environment manager.
  • Advising on the test policy, the test process, test improvement initiatives and other test-related issues.

2006 – 2010: Unit Manager and Senior Test Consultant at Polteqpolteq

  • Daily management of the Polteq Unit in Dordrecht.
  • Various assignments: among others I worked with Kas Bank, TNT Post, Consumentenbond, Norfolkline, T-Mobile, Free Record Shop, Nétive Staffing Software Solutions, RPM Car, IAK and Florence.

vxcomp2005 – 2006: Test Manager at VX Company

  • Test Manager at Postcode Lotery
  • Test Manager at Telegraaf Media Group

cmg1996 – 2005: Developer, Tester and Test Manager at CMG (later LogicaCMG, now CGI)

  • Various assignments: among others I worked with H3G in Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, England en Sweden, Global Services Germany, Belgium, Austria, Delta Lloyd, Fortis, KPN, T-Mobile, Rabobank, UPC and Dienst Omroepbijdragen.

Presentations

Look here for the workshops, talks and keynotes I did at conferences.

Publications

  • Co-author of the “Set your course! Future and Trends in Testing”, TestNet, 2012
  • Co-author of the Orange Book “Test and Quality” Ffor ING, 2016
  • My blog is here
  • For other publications look here

Extracurricular

Personal

bossche broek I live in burgundian Den Bosch. A beautiful city with the character of a village, cozy shops, restaurants and pubs as well as nature within walking distance from the centre (Bossche Broek, Gement). It is a wonderful place to live!


My hobbies are playing trombone in a brass band, photography, running, games (especially strategic board games), travelling, LEGO, beer brewing and reading.